Obj. ID: 36650
Sacred and Ritual Objects  Amulet, Essaouira (Mogador), circa 1900

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

From earliest times, man has tried to protect himself from misfortune by the use of objects which he considered holy or otherwise (e.g., magically) potent. Amulets and talismans are items generally worn around the neck or wrist, carried in a pocket or purse or hung on a wall. They are meant to protect or aid those who carried or wore them. The Hebrew word for amulet, kame‘a, has the root meaning "to bind". Jewish amulets are usually comprised of texts (either letters or graphic symbols) that are inscribed on some sort of material; some may also contain plant matter or precious stones. The texts of amulets usually include holy names that are believed to have the ability to affect reality, along with incantations summoning angels or other magical powers. For the most part, an amulet has a specific purpose: to ease childbirth, facilitate recovery from illness, improve one’s livelihood, and so on, but in the modern world many are also made for general protection.

The Luha shape of this amulet certainly indicates an origin in Essaouira, but the decoration is not typical. The image of the fish on the piece is particularly striking and one of very few Moroccan amulets with that motif that symbolizes both plenty and fertility. The round decoration at the center of the multi-pointed star represents the eye, which is itself an antidote against the “evil eye”. Thestar itself helps to catch, deflect and disperse in multiple directions the power of the evil eye directed against the wearer. The object is marked on the back.